Monday, May 26, 2014

For the third time in a month guests have returned to the lodge saying they can't get to Chicken Corner as someone has strung a fence across the road. The cowboys strung that fence and gate when they had cattle here in November and part of December. Once Linny and Tom found they were gone they took the gate down. Now three times someone has put it back. Tom again takes the gate down and drives out to Chicken Corner but doesn't find anything out of the usual. Perhaps down Lockhart Basin somewhere there is mischief. On the return from Chicken Corner Tom finds a rock cairn used for direction creatively done.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

The kayak slips quietly into the water. Tom knows what time the birds come for feeding each morning but not when they actually wake up. Locating many of the birds he sees each day it turns out his journey has drawn the curiosity of the beavers as they accompany him much of the morning.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Sun rising, moon falling, the shapes of Hurrah emerge. A small rock pushing a large rock, or perhaps holding it up, neither speak, it's hard to know. The two trains are not moving. Last year the smoke stacks both fell off the one on the left. It is still changing yet to know the shape of nature's next rebirth. The rock remains balanced and the camel with early morning light sleeps still. As Tom begins his descent of the far side of Hurrah he's reminded of a smaller Linny's words many nights before falling asleep. "Tom, we will be safe tonight. The China Man is watching to make sure no bad people come." She was right.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Last week it was the Cattle Egret (White Heron) that made a guest appearance each day at Base Camp. This week it has been a white Eurasian Collared Dove. Base Camp has large numbers of gray ones but never a white one and running an internet search doesn't help so apparently they are pretty rare.